Deducting Mileage for Charity on Your Tax Return

If you volunteer for an eligible charity and itemize your deductions, you can take a write-off for mileage as well as parking and tolls.

How much can I deduct on my tax return for miles I drive for charity? I’ve been driving two hours every weekend to help build houses for a local charity and am wondering if I can take a charitable deduction for the mileage.

In 2016, you can deduct 14 cents per mile you drive to do work for an eligible charity, as well as the cost of parking and tolls. Keep a log of the starting and ending mileage, the date, the name of the charity and the purpose of the trip.

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Kimberly Lankford
Contributing Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance

As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.